Our Top Investor Relations Blog Posts from 2014
Last week, Histogenics became the 100th initial public offering (IPO) in the healthcare sector in 2014, with pharmaceutical and biotech companies leading the pack. Healthcare IPOs now account for close to 40 percent of all IPOs registered for the year, more than any other sector.
At Westwicke, the year has passed in a flash, with our investor relations, capital markets, and IPO advisory experts crossing multiple time zones regularly to meet with clients and attend conferences and road shows. We shared some of our experiences and key takeaways in our last blog post, “Lessons Learned in Healthcare IR from 2014.” Here, we’d like to reveal our most popular blog posts of the year — and share essential points that can help you plan for the year ahead.
Commonly Asked Questions About Quiet Periods
By Lynn Pieper, Managing Director
While the formal quiet period regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) comes with clear guidelines and regulations, informal quiet periods are far less defined, and variation exists in how much (or little) a company communicates with investors and analysts. Should you bring to a halt all communications with the investment community or have limited interaction? Should you answer only fact-based (or historical) questions or avoid inquiries altogether?
Top 10 Benefits of Non-Deal Road Shows
By Bob East, Managing Partner
Right after you report earnings is the ideal time to get out on the road and tell your story to the Street. Sell-side analysts are incentivized to market with management teams, so they are always willing to sponsor a non-deal road show (NDRS). It’s critical, however, to pinpoint the right city and sponsoring analyst to make the most of the trip. Non-deal road shows involve planning and work but can deliver meaningful results. What are the top 10 benefits?
Fine-Tune Your Investor Deck for Success, Part 1
By Paul Chun, Principal
Whether for a one-on-one at a conference or an IPO road show, your corporate presentation remains a critical piece of your investor relations strategy. A PowerPoint file may seem trivial compared to the entirety of your enterprise, but the investor presentation remains one of the most tangible and effective tools for building (and losing) investor trust and engagement. While many successfully focus investors on key value drivers, just as many run into pitfalls that can betray the company’s intended message. Could your presentation be starting your investor interactions on the wrong foot?
The Eight Biggest IR Mistakes
By Mark Klausner, Managing Partner
Whether your company is on the road to an initial public offering (IPO) or currently operating as a publicly traded company, cultivating and then maintaining a strong relationship with Wall Street requires strategic planning and thoughtful execution. Interacting with the buy-side and sell-side is not a simple process, and we often observe companies making mistakes in their investor relations (IR) programs that can damage management’s credibility with the Street. What are some common IR mistakes healthcare companies make, and how can you avoid them?
Why Private Companies Need to Meet with Sell-Side Analysts
By John Woolford, Managing Director
Many executives don’t understand the importance and value of meeting with sell-side analysts while still a private company. In fact, most management teams don’t realize that research analysts actually want to meet management teams of private companies. For sell-side analysts, meeting with private companies enables them to build an early relationship with promising companies and gain valuable insights on the industry and products. These analysts hold big sway with the investment community, and a strong, sustained relationship can boost your company’s reputation on Wall Street and make a difference for these key reasons.
Make Your Non-Deal Road Shows More Efficient and Effective
By Tom McDonald, Managing Director
The buy side values access to the C-suite probably more than anything else. In fact, many of the major investment firms base the commission they pay brokers on how many management teams they provide access to each quarter. A great deal of money is tied up in these events, so they are important. Yet as all management teams know, time is in short supply, and it’s impossible to accept every invitation that crosses your desk. How can you maximize your time marketing your investment story to the Street? What invitations are worth accepting, and which ones can you cordially decline?
Take these lessons with you as you gear up for the year ahead, and use them to develop a sound and strategic IR strategy. Westwicke can help you with fine-tuning or developing your 2015 IR plan. Reach out to us to learn how.
Bob East co-founded Westwicke is 2006. Since then, Bob has managed the firm’s strategic direction and led Westwicke's healthcare services and HCIT practice. He has worked with companies representing all aspects of the healthcare services spectrum. Bob received a BA in finance from Loyola College in Baltimore.
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